It's Time To Beat Burnout In Vet Med
My experience as a recovered burnt out veterinarian and certified health + life coach have given me a unique perspective about WHY the vet profession is struggling and how to create positive change today. This cannot be our norm, and it doesn't have to be. Change starts here. ❤️
Thanks for being here! I have a vision where the high burnout and suicide rate in vet med are a thing of the past. I know that is a reality that can and WILL happen, and by being here you are helping that to become a reality.
I’m a multi-passionate veterinarian and certified integrative health and life coach and change worker.
A few years ago, I felt stuck and miserable and deeply regretted my decision to become a veterinarian.
Fast forward to now, I have recovered from burnout and I started Life Boost with Amelia where I coach amazing humans on breaking free from the imposter syndrome, burnout, and constant anxiety that’s weighing them down so they can enjoy living the dream they worked so hard to achieve.
My unique journey and skills mean that I know what it takes to fall back in love with the vet profession and to also follow your heart to try something new (even when it feels really big and scary).
The first step in that journey is to shift out of survival mode and to partner with your nervous system. Here are two great places to start:
Beat The Burnout Series: "Anti-Anxiety Tools That Actually Work"
Get the replay to the first talk in my free Beat The Burnout Series: What We Should Have Learned In Veterinary School. You'll leave empowered with anti-anxiety skills you can use anywhere that are more effective than a glass of wine. These skills should be even more routine than a physical exam!
1 Minute Anti-Anxiety Tool
If you prefer information in writing, check out my favorite 1 minute anti-anxiety tool with 6 powerful ways to use it to instantly decrease stress, change habits, fall asleep faster, and start the day with a more positive mindset.
Here’s a snapshot of where we are according to Merck’s Veterinary Well-Being study:
- Almost a third of vets and half of vet support staff are classified as having high burnout (another quarter have "moderate" burnout!) 😞
- Less than half of vets would recommend the profession to a friend or family member
- Almost 1 in 5 vets regrets becoming a veterinarian
- Almost 1 in 10 veterinarians and 1 in 5 vet staff are suffering from serious psychological distress
If things are feeling hard, you’re not alone. ❤️
These statistics are getting worse, not better. Yet, no one becomes a veterinarian by accident - we work really hard to get to where we are. So where do things go wrong?
We have forgotten to put our oxygen masks on first.
Bullying is one of the major root causes of the high burnout and suicide rate in our profession. Not just from fractious pet owners or peers, but in the way we are treating ourselves.
My name Amelia means "industrious" which summarizes what took me to the highest and lowest points in my life. In both scenarios I was working hard, but the difference was in the way that I was treating myself. At my lowest point (burnt out and regretting all of my life decisions as a vet), I was stuck in survival mode (without even realizing it) and letting negative, judgmental thoughts control my life. At the highest point (where I am now as a recovered burnt out vet, coach, and multi-passionate human), I learned how to shift out of survival mode and to ditch the bullies in my head that were holding me back from the energizing life that was waiting for me.
One of the lowest hanging fruits to create positive change is for the veterinary profession to commit to establishing a zero tolerance for bullies policy starting today.
Watch the replay below for why this is SO key and simple action steps to get started!
"No More Bullies: Overcoming Toxic Clients and The Negative Thoughts Weighing You Down"
One of my veterinarian clients told me about overcoming mindset blocks during our time together:
"I overcame the mindset that I had tried everything, nothing worked, and nothing will — with Amelia’s help, I have named my inner critic, helped compassionately tame her, learned to partner with my body and mind, and love myself so much better. And I have lost weight, which I never thought would be possible for me at this point in my life."
Free resources to support your well-being:
Beat The Burnout Series
These are a series of virtual talks on topics we should have learned in vet school in order to thrive in vet med! This is open to all members of the veterinary team. ❤️
Life Boost Starter Kit
All aspects of your well-being influence your life and all aspects of your life influence your well-being. If you feel like your job is negatively impacting your health, this is a really great place to start.
Listen To My "Life Boost with Amelia" Podcast
This is packed with tips on thriving in and outside of veterinary medicine. Check out Episode 20: "Supporting Your Body On Really Hard Days".
Veterinarians and veterinary students: Join my "Beat The Burnout" Facebook group!
Looking for additional support? Learn more about my life-changing programs.
I still remember the moment when my life changed. I was sitting on the couch, totally burnt out, feeling absolutely stuck. And then one question changed everything. It was like a huge wall that had been blocking me from everything I wanted came crumbling down and I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. It truly felt like the clouds were parting and suddenly I had a much sunnier outlook.
That’s what I do. I help people to have that same feeling of suddenly being lighter and seeing what’s possible for them. One question or mindset shift is all it takes to change the trajectory of your life, which is why I offer complimentary 1 hour clarity coaching calls. I’m not just words on a screen – I’m a human and I’m here for you.
Schedule a complimentary clarity coaching call. You may find that you start having clarity just filling out the clarity consult form!
Did you know the estimated cost of losing a veterinary technician is $59,000 and $104,000 for a veterinarian? 😳
The cost of having a zero-drama, thriving team is priceless. ✨
Here’s what one client had to say after the first month working together:
“In the first month of working with Amelia, I have noticed drastic changes in my life, body, and mental health. Prior to working with Amelia, I was burnt out, stressed veterinarian who would indulge in foods not healthy for me because I felt like I didn’t have time to cook healthy food. I’ve learned how to look at food labels and determine what foods would agree with my body the best. I’ve learned a bunch of new healthy recipes that I love and am no longer craving unhealthy tater tot’s or ice cream!
Before looking at my work schedule and appointments days before would give me anxiety, affect my home and sleep life if there was a difficult surgery on my schedule. I’ve now learned various calming techniques that I use on a daily basis to keep my stress at bay. I look forward going to work again and being able to take on the day with a new mindset that does not bring negativity. My fiancé has even noticed my new mindset and seen how much my stress and anxiety has decreased since starting the Life Boost program!”
As a multi-passionate recovered burnt out vet, integrative health and life coach, change worker, hypnotist, and entrepreneur, I have a unique perspective about how the brain and body work and how to create sustainable change.
I have experience in general practice, urgent care, and relief work. Being a relief veterinarian has given me the opportunity to work in a huge variety of environments including corporate, privately owned, mobile, high and low income, and both toxic and thriving cultures.
My experience has given me an amazing opportunity to observe different approaches and styles to see what works and what doesn’t.
I take that expertise into my coaching to help veterinarians and hospitals thrive, and I’m using it to change the norm in the veterinary profession. I am an active advisory board member for the Global Veterinary Ethics Committee (GVEC) and the Veterinary Genesis Initiative (VGI).
You can learn more about who I am here.
Here's what another client had to say:
“I happened to see a blog written by Amelia (shared by AAHA or AVMA?), and remembered her shadowing at the hospital I started working at after vet school - such a small world! I read the post, started exploring some of her other blog posts, her website, social media posts, etc — I was feeling burnt out as a vet through COVID, had been through so many medical challenges, food sensitivities, divorce, etc. I decided to reach out to her, I was so proud of all she was doing relating to vet well-being, burn out, self care, building an enjoyable, sustainable, healthy lifestyle. And I needed help. I started with her Life Boost Jump Start program - which was SO helpful, and decided to continue working with her 1-on-1. It was life changing. I honestly wish I could keep her as a coach lifelong! I wasn’t sure at first how coaching would go, I had worked with nutritionists and therapists previously, but Amelia is different. She focuses on everything - diet, mindset, boundaries, stress- and she understands the specific stressors of being a veterinarian, which is SO helpful. She is truly an incredible human, so warm, kind, intelligent, and incredibly talented. I’m so glad to have reconnected with her <3”
When asked "How does my program compare to others you’ve tried in the past?" here's what some clients had to say:
“It’s hard to compare because this program is so different. I’ve worked with therapists, nutritionists, doctors; no one ever focused on you as a WHOLE, as a body, mind and heart. And that was exactly what I needed.” - Sara
Everything else I have tried only lasted a few months/weeks. I would hop off the “bandwagon” and be back where I started. I know these changes are permanent and I am never going to go back to where I was 6 months ago because that is not the life I want to live. I am much happier and healthier with my life now! - Katie